2026 World Climbing Madrid Men’s Bouldering: Sorato Takes Gold Again

2026 World Climbing Madrid Men’s Bouldering

An energetic crowd, creative route setting, and a world-class field of athletes made for an unforgettable men’s bouldering competition at the 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering comp. Held in the northern region of the Spanish capital, the event brought together many of the sport’s top competitors as they battled through the semi-final and final rounds in front of an enthusiastic crowd.

Throughout the 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering competition, climbers were challenged by a diverse set of boulders that tested power, technique, coordination, and problem-solving ability. With every attempt carrying added significance, athletes had to balance precision and composure under intense pressure. From impressive flashes to dramatic final attempts, the competition delivered plenty of memorable moments. Here’s a closer look at the standout performances, key highlights, and final results from the 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering competition.

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Men’s Bouldering Semi-Final

The 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering semi-final proved to be a demanding test for the field. Many climbers struggled to unlock the sequences, with success often requiring a precise blend of strength, accuracy, coordination, and problem-solving.

Representing the United States, Colin Duffy emerged as one of the standout performers. He secured three consecutive tops early in the round, quickly separating himself from the competition and comfortably securing his place in the final.

One of the biggest storylines of the semi-final was the dramatic finish of Japan’s Sorato Anraku. Entering the final boulder, Anraku needed a top to keep his hopes alive for a third consecutive gold. In the closing moments of his attempt, he successfully completed the problem, vaulting into third place and securing a spot in the final.

Another notable performance came from Canada’s Oscar Baudrand, who reached the men’s bouldering final for the first time in his career, marking a significant milestone for him and the Canadian team.

Meanwhile, several strong contenders were unable to advance. Japan’s Meichi Narasaki and France’s Mejdi Schalck both missed out on making into the top eight finalists despite impressive performances during the qualification round.

Despite the semi final proving to be challenging for the competitors, there were some impressive standout performances, dramatic late-round moments, and narrow margins separating the top athletes. The stage was set for an exciting men’s final in Madrid.

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Men’s Bouldering Final

The 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering final proved to be a nail biter with USA’s Colin Duffy leading the way followed closely by Japan’s Sorato Anraku. Duffy started the round with a flash on boulder problem #1, while Anraku required two attempts to complete the problem. With each additional attempt deducting one-tenth of a point, Duffy held a narrow lead by mere tenths for much of the competition.

The battle for gold came down to the final boulder. Anraku raised the pressure by topping the last problem, securing his fourth top of the evening and setting a score Duffy would need to match or exceed. All eyes then turned to the American climber as he made his attempt. Duffy reached the zone hold but fell just short of securing it and was ultimately unable to top the boulder. The result left him in second place and earned him the silver medal.

The victory was another major milestone for Anraku, who claimed his third gold medal of the 2026 World Climbing Series season, maintaining a perfect three-for-three record in World Cup competition this year.

“I’m just very happy to win three times in a row.” Responding to a question by the interviewer about which boulder did he like he replied, “My strongest boulder was boulder four. “

Sorato Anraku, World Climbing interview

Joining Sorato and Duffy on the podium was France’s Samuel Richard with a bronze medal finish. He scored 54.4 points putting him ahead of South Korea’s Dohyun Lee who finished in fourth place with 44.6 points.

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Want to Watch the Event?

Missed the live broadcast of the event? No problem! Watch the full 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering competition on YouTube through the World Climbing channel. The broadcast features complete coverage of the women’s and men’s bouldering semi finals and finals, allowing fans to relive the standout moments, impressive display of athleticism, and podium winning performances.

• Men’s Bouldering Semi-Final
• Men’s Bouldering Final

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For more information pertaining to the 2026 World Climbing Madrid men’s bouldering results, location, videos, images, etc., please visit the main event page. This event also featured women’s bouldering. The semi-finals and the finals for the women’s bouldering event took place on May 29th. Please check out the event page for further details about this event.